By Kevin Mwanza

Ghana’s ex-president Jerry Rawlings died at age 73 from covid-19-related complications, according to a statement released on Thursday.

Rawlings was a hard – even ruthless – military man, an anti-imperialist and a revolutionary who seized power twice in military coups in 1979 and 1981. He was regarded as one of Africa’s late 20th century consequential democratic and economic reformers.

He oversaw Ghana’s transition to a multi-party democracy and won elections in 1992 and 1996 before stepping down in 2001. The West African country is now considered one of the most mature democracies on the continent.

“A great tree has fallen and Ghana is poorer for this loss,” Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo said in a statement, which also announced seven days of national mourning.

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